New Opportunities ahead for iPad Cohort

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The 2011–12 Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) academic year saw the implementation of Project #mobileEDU, in which faculty members were given iPads to “re-imagine IPFW’s academic future.”

At a news conference today (Tuesday, May 8, 2012) Chancellor Michael Wartell and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William McKinney announced the iPad cohort project has received a gift of $25,000 from Follett’s, the operators of IPFW’s on-campus book store. The money will be used to help expand the iPad cohort project.

Samantha Birk, associate director for instructional technologies, announced the iPad project will continue, with the addition of a third cohort directed at faculty who are interested in exploring the iPad as it relates to some of IPFW’s first-year, gateway courses. A student cohort is also scheduled to begin this fall. 35-40 students will be loaned a university iPad and asked to take a critical look at the device and share their thoughts with faculty in the iPad cohorts, as well as give their feedback to IPFW on next steps. The students identified to participate in this program are those who are part of the Honors program as well as students involved in the Major Scholarship programs.

Another new element to the project will be the iPad rental program, made possible by the Indiana–Purdue Student Government Association (IPSGA). It is hoped that this rental program, which will charge a nominal fee, will be up and running for the fall 2012 classes.

For more information, contact Samantha Birk at 260-481-6368 or birks@ipfw.edu.